Dark Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

Lake.”
    “Oh, it’s so nice to meet you,” Jenna bubbled, enthusiastically pumping my hand. “I’ve heard so much about you. Scott has the nicest things to say.”
    “I’ll bet,” Aric said, not bothering to hide his disdain.
    “Are you the guy Zoe rebounded with after Scott dumped her?” Jenna asked, her eyes wide as she took in Aric’s impressive form. “You don’t look like you have a hunched back.”
    I barked out a laugh as Aric frowned. “This is him,” I said. “He had surgery to correct his spinal issues.”
    “Wait a second,” Aric sputtered. “First of all … .”
    I shook my head to cut him off. If Scott wanted to impress his girlfriend by twisting details of our shared past, it wasn’t our problem. “It worked out for everyone,” I said. “What do you do, Jenna?”
    “Oh, I work in computer programming with Scott,” she answered, beaming at her beloved as they held hands. “We work at the same tech firm in Detroit.”
    “How romantic,” Aric drawled.
    “What do you do?” Jenna asked Aric. “I would imagine your back issues keep you from doing anything too physical, although … you look pretty good for a guy who shouldn’t be able to work out.”
    “I manage,” Aric said, squeezing my hand. “Please enjoy the party. I’m afraid Zoe and I have to … go someplace else.”
    “Why?” I protested. I was having fun. Sure, it was at Aric’s expense and I was never going to let him live it down, but I was enjoying myself.
    “Because several state senators are here and we have to be polite,” Aric replied, not missing a beat. “You can catch up with Scott later.”
    “But … .”
    “Or never,” Aric added under his breath.
    I offered Scott an apologetic smile. “Duty calls,” I said. “I’ll stop by without Aric in a little bit so we can catch up.”
    “I look forward to it,” Scott replied brightly, winking at Aric in an attempt to get under his skin. I was pretty sure it worked.
    Aric led me away from Scott and toward the outside deck, taking me by surprise. “I thought we had to play nice with senators?”
    “Later,” Aric said, pushing open the door and ushering me outside. Once it was just the two of us, the crisp night air causing me to shiver, he wrapped himself around me to stave off the cold. “I was worried about you freaking out around too many people, and I’m the one who feels suffocated.”
    “I think you’re just upset about your hunched back.”
    “That guy … he’s unbelievable.”
    “He’s trying to impress his girlfriend,” I said. “There’s no reason to get worked up over it. I like your hunched back.”
    “Ha, ha.” Aric pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I think we’re going to have to talk to our mothers. I know they’re planning a big wedding, but that’s not what I want. This is too many people compared to what we’re used to. And none of the big political faces have even arrived yet.”
    He was genuinely unnerved. “What’s wrong?”
    “I honestly don’t know,” Aric replied. “There are too many people in there – a lot of them wolves – and I can’t smell danger.”
    No matter how many times he sniffed people – not their butts or anything, don’t get gross – I couldn’t wrap my mind around his overloaded senses. “I never wanted a big wedding,” I reminded him. “I wanted like ten people and to call it a day.”
    “My mother is going to hate that.”
    “Where is your mother?” I asked, glancing back inside the packed restaurant. “I haven’t seen her since we arrived.”
    “She’s probably arguing with your mother over wedding plans,” Aric said. “They’re both used to being in charge. Neither of them is going to back down.”
    “I’m telling you we should elope,” I said. “We could do it right now, and then come back and announce that we’re married and thank everyone for coming.”
    Aric seemed intrigued by the idea. “If I could figure out a way to get a marriage license right now,